Stand-Alone Ice Making Appliances

ABSTRACT

A stand-alone ice making appliance includes a container defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume. The appliance includes a reservoir defining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank. The appliance includes an ice maker which is in fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice maker including a sealed refrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. The appliance includes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume. The appliance includes a heating element, the heating element activatable to heat the casing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present subject matter relates generally to stand-alone ice makingappliances and in exemplary embodiments to stand-alone ice makingappliances which produce nugget ice.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Ice makers generally produce ice for the use of consumers, such as indrinks being consumed, for cooling foods or drinks to be consumed and/orfor other various purposes. Certain refrigerator appliances include icemakers for producing ice. The ice maker can be positioned within theappliances' freezer chamber and direct ice into an ice bucket where itcan be stored within the freezer chamber. Such refrigerator appliancescan also include a dispensing system for assisting a user with accessingice produced by the refrigerator appliances' ice maker. However, theincorporation of ice makers into refrigerator appliance can havedrawbacks, such as limits on the amount of ice that can be produced andthe reliance on the refrigeration system of the refrigerator applianceto form the ice.

Recently, stand-alone ice makers have been developed. These ice makersare separate from refrigerator appliances and provide independent icesupplies. However, many stand-alone ice makers require a connection tothe plumbing of the dwelling where the ice maker resides, in order tohave access to a water supply. Additionally, many stand-alone ice makersdo not allow for removal of the ice bucket, instead requiring that icebe scooped from the bucket for use. Further, typical stand-alone icemakers are expensive, to the point of being cost-prohibitive to thetypical consumer.

Still further, a concern with many presently known stand-alone icemakers is the lack of features for cleaning the ice makers, such as inpreparation for storage (i.e. seasonal storage, long term storage,etc.). This can result in the ice makers being stored with excessmoisture in various of their components, which can undesirably lead tomold and other contaminates forming during storage.

Accordingly, improved stand-alone ice makers are desired in the art. Inparticular, cost-effective stand-alone ice makers which address variousof the above issues would be advantageous.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thefollowing description, or may be apparent from the description, or maybe learned through practice of the invention.

In accordance with one embodiment, a stand-alone ice making appliance isprovided. The appliance includes a container defining a first storagevolume for receipt of ice, a water tank, the water tank defining asecond storage volume for receipt of water, and a pump in fluidcommunication with the second storage volume for actively flowing waterfrom the water tank. The appliance further includes a reservoir defininga third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communicationwith the pump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the watertank. The appliance further includes an ice maker, the ice makerincluding an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing, the casingin fluid communication with the third storage volume for receiving waterfrom the reservoir, the ice maker further including a sealedrefrigeration system in thermal communication with the casing. Theappliance further includes a chute extending between the ice maker andthe container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towards thefirst storage volume. The appliance further includes a heating element,the heating element activatable to heat the casing.

In accordance with another embodiment, a stand-alone ice makingappliance is provided. The appliance includes a removable containerdefining a first storage volume for receipt of ice, a water tank, thewater tank defining a second storage volume for receipt of water anddisposed below the container along a vertical direction, and a pump influid communication with the second storage volume for actively flowingwater from the water tank. The appliance further includes a reservoirdefining a third storage volume, the third storage volume in fluidcommunication with the pump for receiving water that is actively flowedfrom the water tank. The appliance further includes an ice maker, theice maker including a sealed refrigeration system. The appliance furtherincludes a chute extending between the ice maker and the container fordirecting ice produced by the ice maker towards the first storagevolume. The appliance further includes a heating element, the heatingelement activatable to heat the ice maker. Ice within the first storagevolume is maintained at a temperature greater than thirty-two degreesFahrenheit.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the presentinvention will become better understood with reference to the followingdescription and appended claims. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrateembodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including thebest mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is setforth in the specification, which makes reference to the appendedfigures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stand-alone ice making appliance inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective sectional view of a stand-alone ice makingappliance in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view (with a casing removed) of astand-alone ice making appliance in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a rear sectional view of a stand-alone ice making appliance inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a stand-alone ice making appliance inaccordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention,one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Eachexample is provided by way of explanation of the invention, notlimitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be madein the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit ofthe invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as partof one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a stillfurther embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present inventioncovers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

Referring now to FIG. 1, one embodiment of a stand-alone ice makingappliance 10 in accordance with the present disclosure is illustrated.As shown, appliance 10 includes an outer casing 12 which generally atleast partially houses various other components of the appliance therein10. A container 14 is also illustrated. Container 14 defines a firststorage volume 16 for the receipt and storage of ice 18 therein. A userof the appliance 10 may access ice 18 within the container 14 forconsumption or other uses. Container 14 may include one or moresidewalls 20 and a base wall 22 (see FIG. 2), which may together definethe first storage volume 16. In exemplary embodiments, at least onesidewall 20 may be formed from a clear, see-through (i.e. transparent ortranslucent) material, such as a clear glass or plastic, such that auser can see into the first storage volume 16 and thus view ice 18therein. Further, in exemplary embodiments, container 14 may beremovable, such as from the outer casing 12, by a user. This facilitateseasy access by the user to ice within the container 14 and further, forexample, may provide access to a water tank 24 (see FIG. 2) of theappliance 10.

Appliances 10 in accordance with the present disclosure areadvantageously stand-alone appliances, and thus are not connected torefrigerators or other appliances. Additionally, in exemplaryembodiments, such appliances are not connected to plumbing or anotherwater source that is external to the appliance 10, such as arefrigerator water source. Rather, in exemplary embodiments, water isinitially supplied to the appliance 10 manually by a user, such as bypouring water into water tank 24.

Notably, appliances 10 as discussed herein include various featureswhich allow the appliances 10 to be affordable and desirable to typicalconsumers. For example, the stand-alone feature reduces the costassociated with the appliance 10 and allows the consumer to position theappliance 10 at any suitable desired location, with the only requirementin some embodiments being access to an electrical source. The removablecontainer 14 allows easy access to ice and allows the container 14 to bemoved to a different position from the remainder of the appliance 10 forice usage purposes. Additionally, in exemplary embodiments as discussedherein, appliance 10 is configured to make nugget ice (as discussedherein) which is becoming increasingly popular with consumers.

Referring to FIGS. 2 through 5, various other components of appliances10 in accordance with the present disclosure are illustrated. Forexample, as mentioned, appliance 10 includes a water tank 24. The watertank 24 defines a second storage volume 26 for the receipt and holdingof water. Water tank 24 may include one or more sidewalls 28 and a basewall 30 which may together define the second storage volume 26. Inexemplary embodiments, the water tank 24 may be disposed below thecontainer 14 along a vertical direction V defined for the appliance 10,as shown.

As discussed, in exemplary embodiments, water is provided to the watertank 24 for use in forming ice. Accordingly, appliance 10 may furtherinclude a pump 32. Pump 32 may be in fluid communication with the secondstorage volume 26. For example, water may be flowable from the secondstorage volume 26 through an opening 31 defined in the water tank 24,such as in a sidewall 28 thereof, and may flow through a conduit to andthrough pump 32. Pump 32 may, when activated, actively flow water fromthe second storage volume 26 therethrough and from the pump 32.

Water actively flowed from the pump 32 may be flowed (for examplethrough a suitable conduit) to a reservoir 34. For example, reservoir 34may define a third storage volume 36, which may be defined by one ormore sidewalls 38 and a base wall 40. Third storage volume 36 may, forexample, be in fluid communication with the pump 32 and may thus receivewater that is actively flowed from the water tank 24, such as throughthe pump 32. For example, water may be flowed into the third storagevolume 36 through an opening 42 defined in the reservoir 34.

Reservoir 34 and third storage volume 36 thereof may receive and containwater to be provided to an ice maker 50 for the production of ice.Accordingly, third storage volume 36 may be in fluid communication withice maker 50. For example, water may be flowed, such as through opening44 and through suitable conduits, from third storage volume 36 to icemaker 50.

Ice maker 50 generally receives water, such as from reservoir, andfreezes the water to form ice 18. While any suitable style of ice makeris within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, in exemplaryembodiments, ice maker 50 is a nugget ice maker, and in particular is anauger-style ice maker. As shown, ice maker 50 may include a casing 52into which water from third storage volume 36 is flowed. Casing 52 isthus in fluid communication with third storage volume 36. For example,casing 52 may include one or more sidewalls 54 which may define aninterior volume 56, and an opening 58 may be defined in a sidewall 54.Water may be flowed from third storage volume 36 through the opening 58(such as via a suitable conduit) into the interior volume 56.

As illustrated, an auger 60 may be disposed at least partially withinthe casing 52. During operation, the auger 60 may rotate. Water withinthe casing 52 may at least partially freeze due to heat exchange, suchas with a refrigeration system as discussed herein. The at leastpartially frozen water may be lifted by the auger 60 from casing 52.Further, in exemplary embodiments, the at least partially frozen watermay be directed by auger 60 to and through an extruder 62. The extruder62 may extrude the at least partially frozen water to form ice, such asnuggets of ice 18.

Formed ice 18 may be provided by the ice maker 50 to container 14, andmay be received in the first storage volume 16 thereof. For example, ice18 formed by auger 60 and/or extruder 62 may be provide to the container14. In exemplary embodiments, appliance 10 may include a chute 70 fordirecting ice 18 produced by the ice maker 50 towards the first storagevolume 16. For example, as shown, chute 70 is generally positioned abovecontainer 14 along the vertical direction V. Thus, ice can slide off ofchute 70 and drop into storage volume 16 of container 14. Chute 70 may,as shown, extend between ice maker 50 and container 14, and may includea body 72 which defines a passage 74 therethrough. Ice 18 may bedirected from the ice maker 50 (such as from the auger 60 and/orextruder 62) through the passage 74 to the container 14. In someembodiments, for example, a sweep 64, which may for example be connectedto and rotate with the auger, may contact the ice emerging through theextruder 62 from the auger 60 and direct the ice through the passage 74to the container 14.

As discussed, water within the casing 52 may at least partially freezedue to heat exchange, such as with a refrigeration system. In exemplaryembodiments, ice maker 50 may include a sealed refrigeration system 80.The sealed refrigeration system 80 may be in thermal communication withthe casing 52 to remove heat from the casing 52 and interior volume 56thereof, thus facilitating freezing of water therein to form ice. Sealedrefrigeration system 80 may, for example, include a compressor 82, acondenser 84, a throttling device 86 and an evaporator 88. Evaporator 88may, for example, be in thermal communication with the casing 52 inorder to remove heat from the interior volume 56 and water thereinduring operation of sealed system 80. For example, evaporator 88 may atleast partially surround the casing 52. In particular, evaporator 88 maybe a conduit coiled around and in contact with casing 52, such as thesidewall(s) 54 thereof. During operation of sealed system 80,refrigerant exits evaporator 88 as a fluid in the form of a superheatedvapor. Upon exiting evaporator 88, the refrigerant enters compressor 82wherein the pressure and temperature of the refrigerant are increasedsuch that the refrigerant becomes a higher pressure superheated vapor.The superheated vapor from compressor 82 enters condenser 84 whereinenergy is transferred therefrom and condenses into a saturated liquidand/or liquid vapor mixture. This fluid exits condenser 84 and travelsthrough throttling device 86 that is configured for regulating a flowrate of refrigerant therethrough. Upon exiting throttling device 86, thepressure and temperature of the refrigerant drop at which time therefrigerant enters evaporator 88 and the cycle repeats itself. Incertain exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 5, throttlingdevice 86 may be a capillary tube. Notably, in some embodiments, sealedsystem 80 may additionally include fans (not shown) for facilitatingheat transfer to/from the condenser 84 and evaporator 88.

As discussed, in exemplary embodiments, ice 18 may be nugget ice. Nuggetice is ice that that is maintained or stored (i.e. in first storagevolume 16 of container 14) at a temperature greater than the meltingpoint of water or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.Accordingly, the ambient temperature of the environment surrounding thecontainer 14 may be at a temperature greater than the melting point ofwater or greater than about thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit. In someembodiments, such temperature may be greater than forty degreesFahrenheit, greater than fifty degrees Fahrenheit, or greater than 60degrees Fahrenheit.

Ice 18 held within the first storage volume 16 may gradually melt. Themelting speed is increased for nugget ice due to the increasedmaintenance/storage temperature. Accordingly, drain features mayadvantageously be provided in the container for draining such meltwater. Additionally, and advantageously, the melt water may in exemplaryembodiments be reused by appliance 10 to form ice.

For example, in some embodiments as illustrated in FIG. 5, a drainaperture 90 may be defined in the base wall 22. Drain aperture 90 mayallow water to flow from the first storage volume 16 and container 14generally. Further, in exemplary embodiments, water flowing from thefirst storage volume 16 and container 14 may, due to gravity and thevertical alignment of the container 14 of water tank 24, flow into thesecond storage volume 26.

In exemplary embodiments, appliance 10 may further include a controller110. Controller 110 may, for example, be configured to operate theappliance 10 based on, for example, user inputs to the appliance 10(such as to a user interface 124 (see FIG. 1) thereof), inputs fromvarious sensors disposed within the appliance 10, and/or other suitableinputs. User interface 124 may, for example, include one or moreswitches, buttons, touch screens and/or other features that allow a userto transmit signals to the controller 110 to control operation of theappliance 10. Controller 110 may for example include one or more memorydevices and one or more microprocessors, such as general or specialpurpose microprocessors operable to execute programming instructions ormicro-control code associated with appliance 10 operation. The memorymay represent random access memory such as DRAM, or read only memorysuch as ROM or FLASH. In one embodiment, the processor executesprogramming instructions stored in memory. The memory may be a separatecomponent from the processor or may be included onboard within theprocessor.

In exemplary embodiments, controller 110 may be in operativecommunication with the pump 32. Such operative communication may be viaa wired or wireless connection, and may facilitate the transmittaland/or receipt of signals by the controller 110 and pump 32. Controller110 may be configured to activate the pump 32 to actively flow water.For example, controller 110 may activate the pump 32 to actively flowwater therethrough when, for example, reservoir 34 requires water. Asuitable sensor(s), for example, may be provided in the third storagevolume 36. The sensor(s) may be in operative communication with thecontroller 110 may transmit signals to the controller 110 which indicatewhether or not additional water is desired in the reservoir 34. Whencontroller 110 receives a signal that water is desired, controller 110may send a signal to pump 32 to activate that pump.

It should additionally be noted that, in exemplary embodiments,controller 110 may be in operative communication with the sealed system80, such as with the compressor 82 thereof, and may activate the sealedsystem 80 as desired or required for ice making purposes.

In exemplary embodiments, appliance 10 further includes a heatingelement 120. The heating element 120 may, when activated, emit heat toheat various components of the appliance 10. In particular, as discussedherein, heating element 120 may be utilized to evaporate excess water invarious components of the heating element 120, such as in preparationfor storage of the appliance 10. Such evaporation may advantageouslyreduce or eliminate the risk of mold and/or other contaminates formingin the appliance 10, and in particular in the ice maker 50 and casing 52thereof, during such storage.

As illustrated, the heating element 120 may be activatable to heat theice maker 50, and particularly the casing 52 thereof. The heatingelement 120 may be in contact with a component of the ice maker 50, suchas the casing 52, to facilitate such heating when activated. Forexample, the heating element 120 may be in contact with an outer surface122 of the casing 52. When activated, heat emitted from the heatingelement 120 may be transferred to the outer surface 122 and casing 52generally, heating the casing 52 and ice maker 50 generally.

In exemplary embodiments, the heating element 120 may be a resistiveheating element 120, and may be in the form of a wire or ribbon. Theheating element 120 may thus, for example, be wrapped in a generallyhelical fashion around the outer surface 122 of the casing 52.Alternatively, other suitable heating elements which generate heat whenactivated may be utilized. Heating elements in accordance with thepresent disclosure may be formed from metals, ceramics, polymers,composites, or other suitable materials as desired.

Controller 110 may be in operative communication with the heatingelement 120. Such operative communication may be via a wired or wirelessconnection, and may facilitate the transmittal and/or receipt of signalsby the controller 110 and heating element 120. Controller 110 may beconfigured to activate the heating element 120 to emit heat, and to forexample heat the ice maker 50 generally and in exemplary embodiments thecasing 52.

In exemplary embodiments, controller 110 may be configured to activatethe heating element 120 based on one or more user inputs to thecontroller 110, such as through user interface 124. For example, a usermay interact with the user interface 124 to instruct the controller 110to activate the heating element 120 as desired. Further, in someembodiments, a user may interact with the user interface 124 to instructthe controller 110 to deactivate the heating element 120 as desired.User interaction with the user interface 124 may involve pressing aparticular button/touchscreen area or combination of buttons/touchscreenareas or another suitable manual input to the user interface 124.

Additionally or alternatively, the controller 110 may automaticallydeactivate the heating element 120 after prior activation and after aparticular time period, such as predetermined time period stored in thecontroller 110, has passed. Additionally or alternatively, thecontroller 110 may automatically activate the heating element 120if/when particular conditions are met. For example, a temperature sensordisposed on and/or within the ice maker 50, such as on and/or within thecasing 52, may measure temperatures within the ice maker 50 andspecifically the casing 52. If, for example, such temperature is below apredetermined threshold, the controller 110 may activate the heatingelement 120 to raise the temperature, such as to above the predeterminedthreshold. This may, for example, facilitate continued production ofnugget ice and reduce/prevent the risk of excess freezing conditionswithin the casing 52.

In exemplary embodiments, a user input to the controller 110 whichcauses activation of the heating element 120 may be a storagepreparation mode instruction. This instruction may be input by the uservia, for example, pressing a particular button/touchscreen area orcombination of buttons/touchscreen areas or another suitable manualinput to the user interface 124. Such user input of the storagepreparation mode instruction may cause the controller 110 to activatethe heating element 120 in a particular manner which prepares theappliance 10 for storage, i.e. a condition in which the appliance 10 isnot utilized for a relatively extended period of time. Such extendedperiod of time may, for example, be a time during which moisture in theappliance 10 could potential cause the growth of mold and/or othercontaminates in the appliance 10.

When activated in the storage preparation mode, the heating element 120may be activated for a predetermined period of time. In general, thepredetermined period of time may be a time period sufficient to causeevaporation of moisture from the ice maker 50, and in particular fromwithin the casing 52. For example, the predetermined period of time maybe a time period of between 45 minutes and 2 hours, such as between 55minutes and 1 hour 45 minutes, such as between 1 hour and 1 hour 30minutes. In exemplary embodiments, the heating element 120 may beautomatically deactivated by the controller 110 upon expiration of thepredetermined time period.

In exemplary embodiments, a user may activate the heating element 120 inthe storage preparation mode (such as via a user input to the userinterface 124 as discussed) after manually draining the excess waterfrom the appliance 10. Activation of the heating element 120 in thestorage preparation mode may advantageously cause evaporation ofremaining water after such manual drainage is performed.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal languages of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising: acontainer defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice; a watertank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt ofwater; a pump in fluid communication with the second storage volume foractively flowing water from the water tank; a reservoir defining a thirdstorage volume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with thepump for receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank; anice maker, the ice maker comprising an auger at least partiallysurrounded by a casing, the casing in fluid communication with the thirdstorage volume for receiving water from the reservoir, the ice makerfurther comprising a sealed refrigeration system in thermalcommunication with the casing; a chute extending between the ice makerand the container for directing ice produced by the ice maker towardsthe first storage volume; and a heating element, the heating elementactivatable to heat the casing.
 2. The stand-alone ice making applianceof claim 1, further comprising a controller in operative communicationwith the pump and the heating element.
 3. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to activatethe heating element based on a user input to the controller.
 4. Thestand-alone ice making appliance of claim 3, wherein the user input is astorage preparation mode instruction.
 5. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 4, wherein upon activation in the storage preparationmode, the heating element is activated for a time period of between 45minutes and 2 hours.
 6. The stand-along ice making appliance of claim 1,wherein the heating element is in contact with an outer surface of thecasing.
 7. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein thewater tank is disposed below the container along a vertical direction.8. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the icemaker further comprises an extruder.
 9. The stand-alone ice makingappliance of claim 1, wherein the sealed refrigeration system comprisesa compressor, a condenser, a throttling device, and an evaporator, andwherein the evaporator at least partially surrounds the casing.
 10. Thestand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, wherein the container isremovable.
 11. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 1, whereinice within the first storage volume is maintained at a temperaturegreater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
 12. The stand-alone icemaking appliance of claim 1, wherein ice within the first storage volumeis maintained at a temperature greater than forty degrees Fahrenheit.13. A stand-alone ice making appliance, comprising: a removablecontainer defining a first storage volume for receipt of ice; a watertank, the water tank defining a second storage volume for receipt ofwater and disposed below the container along a vertical direction; apump in fluid communication with the second storage volume for activelyflowing water from the water tank; a reservoir defining a third storagevolume, the third storage volume in fluid communication with the pumpfor receiving water that is actively flowed from the water tank; an icemaker, the ice maker comprising a sealed refrigeration system; and achute extending between the ice maker and the container for directingice produced by the ice maker towards the first storage volume; and aheating element, the heating element activatable to heat the ice maker,wherein ice within the first storage volume is maintained at atemperature greater than thirty-two degrees Fahrenheit.
 14. Thestand-alone ice making appliance of claim 13, wherein the ice makerfurther comprises an auger at least partially surrounded by a casing,the casing in fluid communication with the third storage volume forreceiving water from the reservoir, and wherein the heating element isactivatable to heat the casing.
 15. The stand-along ice making applianceof claim 14, wherein the heating element is in contact with an outersurface of the casing.
 16. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim13, wherein the ice maker further comprises an extruder.
 17. Thestand-alone ice making appliance of claim 13, further comprising acontroller in operative communication with the pump and the heatingelement.
 18. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 17, whereinthe controller is configured to activate the heating element based on auser input to the controller.
 19. The stand-alone ice making applianceof claim 18, wherein the user input is an storage preparation modeinstruction.
 20. The stand-alone ice making appliance of claim 19,wherein upon activation in the storage preparation mode, the heatingelement is activated for a time period of between 45 minutes and 2hours.